JEDDAH: The municipality's Friends of Jeddah Program and Ibn Sina College jointly organized a five-day awareness campaign about diabetes.
Volunteers erected portable clinics on the pedestrian path at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Street to carry out blood pressure and diabetes checks, and raise awareness among members of the public.
Jamal Al-Mundhiri, head of the Friends of Jeddah Program, said the project aims to spread awareness about the dangers and symptoms of diabetes and blood pressure, which have increased at alarming rates worldwide.
He noted that more than 70 volunteers have participated in the campaign, which kicked off on Wednesday. Pedestrians passing by the clinics got their blood pressure tested in addition to undergoing other medical checks under the supervision of specialized doctors, he said.
Dr. Khaldoun Adel, one of the volunteers, said diabetes and high blood pressure are increasing rapidly in the Kingdom due to dietary habits and lack of exercise. He said bad dietary habits play a major role in diabetes-related health complications, which make volunteers concentrate on explaining the importance of healthy food to the public.
Mustafa Yasawi, a medical student, said volunteer work is the most important thing in every society, especially when it concerns health awareness. "It is one of the pillars of medical professions," he said.
Husam Kilantan, the program's coordinator, said medical students of Ibn Sina College came up with the idea of the campaign. The Jeddah municipality has provided all facilities and support through its Friends of Jeddah Program, he added.
